The wellbeing impacts of participation in civic environmental activities in an urban context: a mixed methods realist evaluation

Thompson, Jessica

Abstract

Environmental organisations are operating in the context of climate emergency and a biodiversity crisis, alongside a growing green health movement that seeks to understand better the links between the natural environment and human health. This study gained a closer understanding of how and why and in what context wellbeing impacts may be derived from participation in civic environmental activities to assess whether this might be an innovative solution to tackling health issues upstream whilst improving local greenspace provision. Civic environmental activity is facilitated by urban greening initiatives delivered by organisations that enable participants to improve or develop publicly accessible green infrastructure within the urban environment at a neighbourhood level. The research takes a realist approach to evaluating the context and mechanisms that may lead to wellbeing outcomes through participation in civic environmental activity and the implications for the implementation of delivery models. The study gathered perspectives from both participants engaged in civic environmental activities and practitioners facilitating activities, to better understand the Context – Mechanism- Outcome configuration conceptualised using a programme theory approach. Data were collected from individuals attending greening initiatives delivered by Greater Manchester based organisations.
The Five Ways to Wellbeing (Aked et al., 2008) framework provided the starting point to guide a deeper understanding into causal mechanisms within the phenomenon that may lead to the intended outcome of increased wellbeing (or conversely unintended outcomes). Data were gathered from a bespoke Green Ways to Wellbeing (GWTWB) questionnaire (QUANT-QUAL) conducted pre and post activities. Semi-structured interviews and focus groups (QUAL) with participant and practitioners were subjected to a retroductive Reflexive Thematic Analysis approach. A triangulation strategy determined convergence, differences or a combination of the two between datasets.
The findings suggest that participation in civic environmental activities leads to improved mood leading to short-term hedonistic wellbeing experiences, and in the longer term eudaimonic wellbeing. In the context of nature, the phenomenon facilitates physical activity, social connections, learning opportunities, a sense of citizenship, a connection to nature, and nurtures a sense of purpose and self-worth.
Findings from the research present a deeper understanding and insight into the journey and contextual factors, e.g. participant reasoning and resources needed, to achieve the desired wellbeing outcomes. The study provides an engagement framework and tool (GWTWB questionnaire) for evaluating wellbeing impacts into the future. The discussion seeks to address conflicting paradigms regarding evaluation with an aim to help bridge an existing gap between the health sector and environmental third sector stakeholders.
The findings aim to support policy and practitioners to deliver nature-based activities for health and wellbeing and support the emerging green social prescribing movement, by understanding better what works for whom and why and the implications for practice in the context of climate change and nature recovery agendas. The research provides a unique contribution to the evidence base in understanding wellbeing impacts of the phenomenon, and the implications for practice, using a realist evaluation approach.

• Thesis Type: Thesis
• Online Publication Date: May 29, 2025
• Deposit Date: May 9, 2025
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 30, 2025
• Award Date: May 29, 2025